Luella's Bar-B-Que Pit Master

ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT FOOD AND BUILDING LASTING CONNECTIONS?

Since 2007, Luella’s Bar-B-Que has been serving great food and genuine hospitality in a fun, energetic, and welcoming environment. We believe a restaurant can be more than just a place to work. It can be a place where people grow, build meaningful connections, and take pride in the experiences they create for guests and team members alike.

At Luella’s, we look for people who lead with character and hospitality. We like to say, it’s more than a meal, it is how we make them feel. We look for these qualities in our team:

1. Attitude – shows up with positivity and contributes to the energy of the team
2. Curiosity – stays open, coachable, and eager to learn
3. Integrity – does the right thing and takes ownership of actions
4. Empathy – understands and cares about their impact on the experience of others

Luella’s operates North Asheville and South Asheville locations, along with a growing catering department. As a locally owned restaurant group, we are proud of our food, our community roots, and the fun, eclectic environments where our team delivers memorable guest experiences every day.

If you believe hospitality is about taking care of people and value creating meaningful experiences for others, we would love to meet you.

JOB SUMMARY

The Pit Master is a prep position responsible for executing the heart of Luella’s Bar-B-Que: authentic, slow-smoked barbecue prepared with consistency, pride, and craftsmanship.

This role conducts daily operation of the smoker and ensures that all meats are prepared according to Luella’s recipes, quality standards, and production schedules. The Pit Master takes ownership of the barbecue process from raw product through finished service, maintaining the integrity, flavor, and presentation that our guests expect.

The ideal candidate respects the tradition of barbecue while bringing strong attention to detail and a commitment to teamwork. While the smoker is the primary focus, the Pit Master is also a key member of the kitchen team who helps prepare restaurant and catering menu items in a safe, clean kitchen environment. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

GUEST EXPERIENCE & HOSPITALITY

1. Understand that great barbecue is part of the guest experience and take pride in producing food that reflects Luella’s standards.
2. Maintain consistency in the food quality, craveability, 
3. Demonstrate professionalism, teamwork, and respect in all interactions with guests, team members, and vendors

POSITION EXECUTION

1. Operate and manage the smoker to produce all smoked meats in accordance with Luella’s recipes and standards, ensuring consistent, craveable food
2. Prepare meats, including trimming, seasoning, and staging for smoking
3. Maintain accurate production levels to meet daily service needs and protect freshness
4. Maintain the cleanliness and organization of equipment, work areas, storage, and outdoor areas
5. Follow all food safety and sanitation standards
6. Assist with catering menu production and kitchen support tasks
7. Performs other cooking, prep, and cleaning duties to keep the operation running smoothly

TEAM AND CULTURE CONTRIBUTION 

1. Take pride in the craft of barbecue and help maintain Luella’s reputation for quality
2. Support fellow team members during busy periods
3. Maintain a positive attitude and strong work ethic
4. Demonstrate reliability and accountability for scheduled shifts and production responsibilities
5. Contribute to a respectful, supportive kitchen environment

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will possess at least 90% of the following:

1. Experience in barbecue, smoking meats, or high-volume kitchen production preferred
2. Strong understanding of food safety and sanitation practices
3. Ability to manage long cook times and production schedules
4. Strong attention to detail and consistency
5. Ability to work independently while staying connected with the kitchen team
6. Comfortable working early morning shifts
7. Possess curiosity and a passion for barbecue and traditional Southern flavors 
8. Must be 18  

PHYSICAL & SCHEDULE REQUIREMENTS

1. While performing the duties of this job, the team member is required to stand, walk, talk, and hear
2. The team member is required to be on their feet for a large portion of the day/shift
3. The team member is required to stoop, kneel, or crouch; reach with hands and arms; use hands to finger, handle or feel tools or controls; must be able to lift and /or move heavy objects including tables and cases of food and beverage; must be able to lift approximately 50 pounds overhead
4. Must be able to work in a restaurant environment including hot kitchens
5. Must be able to work a flexible schedule can vary from week to week; work required on AM and PM shifts, weekends and holidays
6. Is willing to work 30-40 per week, including weekends, and certain holidays as necessary

PERKS AND BENEFITS

1. Base pay: $19-23/hour depending on experience  
2. Incentive pay: Teamshare bonus eligibility after 90 days 
3. Full-Time team members are eligible to enroll in Dental, Vision, Short-Term Disability, Accident, Employee Assistance Program, Direct Primary Care and Medical Cost Sharing after 60 days. 
4. 401(k) eligibility after 60 days
5. Free shift meals and dining discounts on non-working days
6. Career advancement and cross-training opportunities
7. Employer-funded continuing education programs
8. Tuition Allowance, after two years
9. Free parking 

We are looking for team members who genuinely enjoy people, thrive in a busy environment, and take pride in creating memorable guest experiences.